Dock and dock bracket



Nov. 29, 1966 L. c. HAHN 3,287,919

DOCK AND DOCK BRACKET Filed Aug. 5, 1964 INVENTOR.

LAURENCE C. HAHN ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,287,919 DOCK AND DOCKBRACKET Laurence C. Halm, 5625 Girard Ave. N., Minneapolis, Minn. FiledAug. 3, 1964, Ser. No. 387,112 7 Claims. (Cl. 61-48) The hereindisclosed invention relates to a dock bracket for supporting a platformon a number of posts sunk into the bottom of a body of water and has foran object to provide a bracket by means of which the platform of thedock may be supported on the posts without the use of bolts or otherfastening means to hold the platform in position.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a bracket suitablefor securing sections of a dock together in T-shaped or L-shapedrelation.

A still further object of the invention resides in providing a bracketsuitable for supporting the end section of a dock at the outer endthereof.

An object of the invention resides in providing a bracket whereby aplatform constructed in sections may be supported on posts with onebracket supporting the meeting ends of the sections.

Another object of the invention resides in providing the bracket with ashelf on which the lower edges of the frame members of the platformrest.

A still further object of the invention resides in providing a flangeextending upwardly from said shelf and lying adjacent one surface of oneof the frame members and to which is attached a fastening means forsecuring the shelf to the post.

An object of the invention resides in providing an up right secured tothe shelf and disposed within the re-entrant angle between two of theframe members and in proximity to certain surfaces thereof.

Other objects of the invention reside in the novel construction andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterillustrated and/ or described.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a dock illustrating two dock sections supportedby a post sunk into the bottom of a body of water with which the dock isto be used.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the dock bracket before attachment to the docksections.

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the structure shown in posts, one ofwhich is indicated by reference character 50.

These sections are supported on dock brackets 30 which form the subjectmatter of the instant invention.

The portion of section illustrated comprises a longitudinal rectangularframe member 11 and a similar transverse frame member 12 which issecured to the frame member 11 by means of nails 13. Other frame membersnot shown are disposed opposite the frame members 11 and 12 and aresimilarly secured together and to the frame members 11 and 12. Acrossthe various frame members are attached boards 14 which form a deckindicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 15. This deck liesflush with the outer surfaces 16 and 17 of the various frame members.The section 20 is constructed in a similar manner to the section 10 anda portion of the same 3,287,919 Patented Nov. 29, 1966 including alongitudinal frame member 21, a transverse frame member 22 and a deck 25has been shown. This dock section has the deck 25 flush with the outersurface 26 of the frame member 21 and with the outer surface 27 of thetransverse frame member 22.

Dock bracket 30 consists of a plate 31 which serves as a shelf and onwhich the edges 18, 28, 19 and 29 of the frame members 11, 12, 21 and 22rest. This plate has extending upwardly from it a flange 32 whichoverlies the surfaces 16 and 26 of the frame members 11 and 21. Thisflange is slightly shorter than the depth of the frame members so thatthe upper edge 33 of the same falls below the upper surface of the deck15.

Extending upwardly from the shelf 31 is an upright 34 in the form of anangle having legs 35 and 36. This upright is disposed within there-entrant angle formed between the frame members 11 and 12 and the saidlegs 35 and 36 lie in close proximity to the inner surfaces 37 and 38 ofsaid frame members. This upright is welded to the shelf 31. A similarupright 44 also secured to the shelf 31 by welding is disposed in there-entrant angle formed between frame members 21 and 22 and is disposedin proximity to the inner surfaces 42 and 43 of said frame members. Bymeans of this construction, the flange 32 holds the sections fromoutward movement while the uprights 34 and 44 hold the sections fromtransverse movement in the opposite direction. In addition, theseuprights hold the frame members 12 and 22 from spreading and thus.maintain the two sections 10 and 20 in proper coplanar alignment.

In the drawings, the post 50 has been shown as a tubular post. Forsupporting the bracket on this post, a collar 51 is employed which iswelded tothe flange 32. This collar receives the post 50 and a set screw52 screwed into said collar and engaging said post holds the bracket inproper vertically adjusted position on the post.

In FIG. 5 a modification of the invention has been shown which isadapted to be applied to the outermost end of a dock section. Since theparts of the dock and the dock bracket are similar to those shown inFIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the descriptions of the same will not be repeatedand the same reference numerals preceded by the digit (1) will be usedto designate the corresponding parts. The bracket shown in FIG. 5 isillustrated as applied to the outer end of section 10. Here thelonigtudinal frame member 11 is secured to the transverse frame member112 at the end of the section opposite the end having the transverseframe member 12. With this form of the invention, upright 144 isemployed which fits in the re-entrant angle between the frame members 11and 112. However, upright 34 is omitted and a flange 145 employed whichis welded to the shelf 131 and which overlies the .outer surface 117 ofthe frame member 112.

In FIG. 6 a still further modification of the invention has been shownwhich is adapted to be applied to a dock section extending outwardlyfrom the main dock section intermediate the ends thereof and having alongitudinal frame member disposed intermediate the ends of the firstdock section. Since the parts of the dock and the dock bracket aresimilar to those shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the description of thesimilar parts will not be repeated and the same reference numeralspreceded by the digit (2) will be used to designate the correspondingparts. The principal dock section is indicated by the reference numeral220 and the section issuing outwardly from it by the reference character210. The dock section 220 includes a longitudinal frame member 221 andthe dock section 210 includes a longitudinal frame member 211 .and atransverse frame member 212. Frame member 221 has an outer surface 226and an inner surface 242. Frame member 211 has an outer surface 216 andan inner 3 surface 226. The frame member 212 of section 210 has an outersurface 226 and an inner surface 2427 The bracket 230 is almostidentical with the bracket 139 and differs only in that the shelf 231 islarger than the shelf 131 and that the flange 245 is spaced from theflange 233 to receive the frame member 221 of dock section 220.

In the use of the invention, posts with base portions are employed whichrest on the bottom of body of water where the dock is .to be installed.One of the dock sections is floated out with the inner end of thesection resting on the shore and the outer end lying in the water. Twoposts are then placed in the water at the proper localities and spacedapart the required distance. Brackets such as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 arethen applied to the posts and adjusted to the desired height above thewater. Set screws 51 may then be tightened up to hold the brackets inproper position; the end of the section of the dock adjacent the postsis then lifted up and placed on the two brackets. A second dock sectionis then floated out and properly positioned with reference to the outerend of the first section and posts placed for the outer end of thissection. Brackets 30 may then be placed on the posts and the secondsection lifted and placed on all four brackets. Succeeding sections maybe similarly mounted and the outer end of the last section supported onbrackets similar to those shown in FIG. 5. Where it is desired to make adock having one section extending angularly from another section, theform of the invention disclosed in FIG. 6 may be employed.

The advantages of the invention are manifest. The device is simple andeasy to use. No bolts, screws, or nails are required to fasten the docksections together. The dock sections are merely lifted-in place upon thebrackets and dropped into position. The shape of the dock can be alteredat any time by adding new sections or removing existing sections or byarranging the sections in a different manner. Little effort is requiredin taking down the dock for winter storage. The dock can be raised andlowered at any time to correspond with changes in the elevation of thewater where the dock is installed.

Changes in the specific form of the invention, as herein described, maybe made within the scope of What is claimed without departing from thespirit of the invention. Having described the invention, what is claimedas new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is:

1. A dock bracket for supporting, on a post, a dock platform having adeck attached to a longitudinal frame member and to a transverse framemember joined to said longitudinal frame member, said frame membersbeing disposed below the deck and exposed on the undersides thereof,said bracket comprising:

(a) a shelf on which the lower edges of said longitudinal frame memberand said transverse frame member rest, I v

(b) a flange extending upwardly from said shelf and juxaposed adjacentone side of one of said frame members,

(c) an upright secured to said shelf and extending upwardly therefrom,

(d) said upright being disposed in the re-entrant angle between saidframe members and being juxtaposed adjacent one side of each of saidframe members, and

(e). means on said bracket for attaching it to a dock post.

2. A dock bracket for supporting, on a post, a dock platform having adeck attached to a longitudinal frame member and to a transverse framemember joined to said longitudinal frame members, said frame membersbeing disposed below the deck and exposed on the undersides thereof,said bracket comprising:

(a) a shelf on which the lower edges of said longitudinal frame memberand said transverse frame member rest,

(b) a flange extending upwardly from said shelf and juxatposed adjacentone side of one of said frame members,

(0) an angular upright secured at one end to said shelf and extendingupwardly therefrom,

(d) said upright being disposed in the re-entrant angle between saidframe members with one leg being juxtaposed adjacent one side of thetransverse frame member and the other leg being disposed adjacent oneside of the longitudinal frame member and (e) means on said bracket forattaching it to a dock post.

3. A dock bracket for supporting, on a post, a dock platform having adeck attached to a longitudinal frame member and to a transverse framemember joined to said longitudinal frame member, said frame membersbeing disposed below the deck and exposed on the undersides thereof,said bracket comprising:

(a) a shelf on which the lower edges of said longitudinal frame memberand said transverse frame member rest,

(b) a flange extending upwardly from said shelf and juxtaposed adjacentone side of one of said frame members,

(c) an upright secured to said shelf and extending upwardly therefrom,

(d) said upright being disposed in the re-entrant angle between saidframe membersand being juxtaposed adjacent one side of each of saidframe members, and

(e) and means on said flange for attaching said bracket to a dock post.

4. A dock bracket for supporting, on a post, a dock platform having adeck attached to a longitudinal frame member and to a transverse framemember joined to said longitudinal frame members, said frame membersbeing disposed below the deck and exposed on the undersides thereof,said bracket comprising:

(a) a shelf on which the lower edge of the longitudinal frame member andthe transverse frame members rest.

(b) a flange extending upwardly from said shelf and juxtaposed adjacentone side of one of said frame members,

(0) an upright secured to said shelf and extending upwardly therefrom,

((1) said upright being disposed in the re-entrant angle between saidframe members and being juxtaposed adjacent one side of each of saidframe members, and

(e) a collar on said flange and adapted to encircle a dock post, and p(f) means engaging said collar and post and holding said bracket infixed relation relative to said post.

5. A dock bracket for supporting, on a post, a dock platform having adeck attached to a longitudinal frame member extending along one edge ofthe deck and to a transverse frame member joined to said deck andforming a re-entrant angle with the first named frame member, said framemembers being disposed below the deck and exposed on the undersidesthereof, said bracket comprising:

(a) a shelf on which the approaching end portions of said frame membersrest,

(b) a flange extending upwardly from said shelf and juxtaposed adjacentthe outermost surface of said longitudinal frame member,

(c) an upright secured to said shelf and extending upwardly therefrom,

(d) said upright being disposed in the re-entrant angle between saidframe members and juxtaposed adjacent the inner surfaces of said framemembers, and

( means on said bracket for attaching it to a dock 6. A dock bracket forsupporting, on a post, two juxtaposed sections of a platform each havinga deck attached to a longitudinal frame member exending along onelateral edge of the section and a transverse frame member extendingalong an end of each section and forming a reentrant angle with saidlongitudinal frame member, said frame members being disposed below saiddeck and exposed on the undersides thereof, said sections being adaptedto be arranged in end to end alignment with the transverse frame membersin juxtaposition, said bracket comprising:

(a) a shelf on which the approachng end portions of the frame members ofboth sections rest,

(b) a flange extending upwardly from said shelf and juxtaposed adjacentthe outermost surface of both of said longitudinal frame members,

() an upright secured to said shelf and extending upwardly therefrom anddisposed in the re-entrant angle between the frame members of onesection adjacent the inner surfaces thereof,

((1) another upright secured to said shelf and disposed in there-entrant angle between the frame members of the other section andadjacent the inner surfaces of said frame members and (e) means on saidbracket for attaching it to a dock post.

7. A dock bracket for supporting, on a post, two juxtaposed sections ofa platform each having a deck attached to a longitudinal frame memberextending along one lateral edge of the section and a transverse framemember extending along an end of each section and forming a re-entrantangle with said longitudinal frame member, said frame members beingdisposed below said deck and exposed on the undersides thereof, saidsections being adapted to be arranged in end to end alignment with thetransverse frame members in juxtaposition, said bracket comprising:

(a) a shelf on which the approaching end portions of the frame membersof both sections rest,

(b) a flange extending upwardly from said shelf and juxtaposed adjacentthe outermost surface of both of said longitudinal frame members,

(0) an upright secured to said shelf and extending upwardly therefromand disposed in the re-entrant angle between the frame members of onesection adjacent the inner surface thereof,

((1) another upright secured to said shelf and disposed in there-entrant angle between the frame members of the other section andadjacent the inner surfaces of said frame members,

(e) a collar on the outer surface of said flange and adapted to encirclea dock post,

(f) said collar being disposed outwardly of said flange and platform topermit of attachment of the platform to the post at a locality below theupper end of the post and (g) means engaging said collar and post andholding said bracket in fixed relation to said post.

No references cited.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

R. A. STENZEL, Assistant Examiner.

7. A DOCK BRACKET FOR SUPPORTING, ON A POST, TWO JUXTAPOSED SECTIONS OFA PLATFORM EACH HAVING A DECK ATTACHED TO A LONGITUDINAL FRAME MEMBEREXTENDING ALONG ONE LATERAL EDGE OF THE SECTION AND A TRANSVERSE FRAMEMEMBER EXTENDING ALONG AN END OF EACH SECTION AND FORMING A RE-ENTRANTANGLE WITH SAID LONGITUDINAL FRAME MEMBER, SAID FRAME MEMBERS BEINGDISPOSED BELOW SAID DECK AND EXPOSED ON THE UNDERSIDES THEREOF, SAIDSECTIONS BEING ADAPTED TO BE ARRANGED IN END TO END ALIGNMENT WITH THETRANSVERSE FRAME MEMBERS IN JUXTAPOSITION, SAID BRACKET COMPRISING: (A)A SHELF ON WHICH THE APPROACHING END PORTIONS OF THE FRAME MEMBERS OFBOTH SECTIONS REST, (B) A FLANGE EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAID SHELF ANDJUXTAPOSED ADJACENT THE OUTERMOST SURFACE OF BOTH OF SAID LONGITUDINALFRAME MEMBERS, (C) AN UPRIGHT SECURED TO SAID SHELF AND EXTENDINGUPWARDLY THEREFROM AND DISPOSED IN THE RE-ENTRANT ANGLE BETWEEN THEFRAME MEMBERS OF ONE SECTION ADJACENT THE INNER SURFACE THEREOF, (D)ANOTHER UPRIGHT SECURED TO SAID SHELF AND DISPOSED IN THE REN-ENTRANTANGLE BETWEEN THE FRAME MEMBERS OF THE OTHER SECTION AND ADJACENT THEINNER SURFACES OF SAID FRAME MEMBERS, (E) A COLLAR ON THE OUTER SURFACEOF SAID FLANGE AND ADAPTED TO ENCIRCLE A DOCK POST, (F) SAID COLLARBEING DISPOSED OUTWARDLY OF SAID FLANGE AND PLATFORM TO PERMIT OFATTACHMENT OF THE PLATFORM TO THE POST AT A LOCALITY BELOW THE UPPER ENDOF THE POST AND (G) MEANS ENGAGING SAID COLLAR AND POST AND HOLDING SAIDBRACKET IN FIXED RELATION TO SAID POST.